Calf-delivery apparatus



Oct. 29, 1940. J. KUYLEN I QAM-DELIVERY APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1.1959

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Inval-111131" .Jul-ln Kuglen Fittnrnlg Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED wsvTATEs GMF-DELIVERY APPARATUS John' Kuylen, Cleveland, Wis., assigner of onehalf to Israel Axel, Cleveland, Wis.

Application March 29, 1939, serial No. 264,740

f 2 Claims.

This invention appertains to animal husbandry, and more particularly to a novel devicefor` facilitating the delivery ofv animals at birth.

. One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a calf-delivery apparatus which is .-of a light and compact form, and which can be easily and quickly operated. I I

Another salient object ofA my invention isf toy iprovide a calf-delivery apparatus embodying anl open frame having a sliding gate at one end for engaging the cow, and means at the other end for actuating a calf pull cable step by step.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a calf-delivery apparatus of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one`which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in thev accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my apparatus, with parts thereof broken away and in section to illustrate structural details.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of my dev1ce.

Figure 3 is an end elevational View of my device, with parts thereof broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of my device, with parts thereof broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, detail, sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating part of the cable drum-actuating means.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, longitudinal'sectional View through one of the operating levers for the cable drum.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my novel calf-delivery apparatus, and the same embodies an elongated open frame, which may consist of a pair of upper longitudinally extending beams I0 and II and a pair of lower, spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending beams I2 and I3. 'I'hese beams can be made of any preferred material, but, as illustrated, the same consist of hollow tubing for the sake of lightness and strength.

(Cl. 12S-352) I'he beams can ,be of a telescopic nature, whereby the active length of the frame can be changed to suit varying conditions, and the telescopic sections of the beams can be held in an adjusted position by means of bolts I4, which can pass through openings in said sections. The lower'beams I2 andv I3 at the front of the device are connected by a. channel beam I5, and this channel beam has welded or otherwise secured thereto, upright channel beams I6, which are, in turn, secured to the beams I 2 and I3, and to the upper beams I0 and II.

In order to facilitate the connection of the beams I0, II, I2, and I3 with the channel beams, the front ends of the tubular beams can have tted therein brackets or feet I6', as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. These feet I6 can then be welded or riveted to the channel beams.

The arrangement of the channel beams is such that a front open framework is provided, and the channel beams IB receive a transversely extending, lower block I'I and a similar upper block I8. The blocks I1 and I8 are preferably formed from Wood, and their adjacent edges are notched so as to form a delivery opening I9 for the calf. The upper block I8 can raise and lower in the channel beamsA I6, and, hence, the active size of the opening I9 varies, and the block I8 can rise and fall as a calf passes through the opening.

'I'he rear end `of the apparatus is also provided with an open rectangular frame 20, which can be formed from channel iron. The rear ends of the longitudinal beams have secured therein feet or brackets 2|, which can be riveted or Welded to the frame 20.

The rear frame 20 supports a transversely extending drum 22, and this drum is rotatably mounted on a shaft 23, the opposite ends of which can be mounted in bearing brackets 24. The bearing brackets 24 can be welded or otherwise secured to the rectangular frame 20. The drum 22 is adapted to have wound thereon a pull cable 25, and this cable is adapted to extend longitudinally Vof the frame and lthrough the opening I 9, and is adapted Kto be firmly secured to the calf bein-g delivered.

The drum is preferably rotated in a step by step movement, and, hence, the opposite ends thereof are provided with ratchet teeth 26. R-ockably mounted ron the shaft 23 at the ropposite ends of the drum 22 are operating levers 21, and these levers carry spring-pressed dogs 28, which are adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 26. Thus, by working the levers back and forth,

the drum can be rotated and the cable will be wound thereon.

In `order to permit the quick paying 01T of the cable from the drum, means is provided for holding the dogs 29 entirely out of engagement with the `ratchet teeth 26. This means can consist of a rod 30 slidably mounted in each operating lever. The outer ends of the rods 30 are provided with finger-actuating knobs 3l, and these knobs are connected to the rods by cross-pins 32. The cross-pins 32 extend through slots 33 formed in the levers 21.

Obviously, by pushing down on the knobs, :the rods 30 can be forced inwardly. The inner ends of the rods 30 are of a V-shape, and are adapted to engage the inclined walls of V-shaped notches 34 formed in Ithe yokes 29. Thus, when the rods 3i) are yforced down, the same will -ride on the ink clined walls of Vthe notches and force the dogs inwardly.

In use of my apparatus, the front of the device is placed so that the blocks I1 and I8 will iirmlyl engage the cow, and the cable 25, as stated, is brought through the opening I9 and lmade fast to the cal-f. The drum 22 is then opera-ted so as to actuate the cable in a step by step movement.

Changes in details may be made without de'- parting from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A calf-delivery apparatus comprising, an

elongated frame, a pair of` blocks at the forward end of the frame :for engaging a cow, the meeting edges of said blocks being notched to form an opening, one of said blocks being movable relative to ,the other whereby Ato vary the size of the opening, a pull cable for the calf passing through said opening, a drum for winding up Ithe cable, means for rotating the drum including `operating levers at the opposite ends of the drum mounted for rocking movement, ratchet lteeth on the ends of the drum, spring-pressed dogs on the levers for engaging said teethhaving inclinedfaces, and rods slidably mounted on said levers having inclined ends for engaging said faces for holding and forcing :the dogs Iout of engagement with the teeth for releasing the cable upon inward movementor the rods on said levers.

2. A calf-delivery apparatus comprising, a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending, top beams' and-a 4pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending bottom beams, open rectangular frames connecting the front'and rear ends of the beams together, the front open frame being formed from channel iron, blocks slidably mounted in the channel iron extending transversely of the apparatus and having notches in their meeting edges to-deiine an opening, a drum rotatably mounted on the rear frame, a pull cable for the calf adaptedto be wound upon the drum, and means for rotating the drum.

' JOHN KUYLEN. 

